Improvement in cartridges



R; WHITE.

CARTRIDGES.

Patented Jul y 4, 1876.-

129123. Fly; 1 4 .6. 12 a.

. front end of the same;

ROLLIN WHITE, or LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

'lMPROVEiVlE NT INICARTRIDGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 179,634, dated July 4, 1876; application filed March 20, 1876. j

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROLLIN WHITE, of Lowell, Middlesex county, Massachusetts, have made certain new and useful Improve ments in Cartridges for Fire-Arms, of which the following is an accurate description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the cartridge, with projectile in place. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the front end of the base of the same. Fig. 3 is the front end of the primer. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig.5 is the front end of a modification of Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a vertical longitudinal section of Fig. 5. Fig. 7, is the rear end of a modification of Fig. 3; Fig.8, the

Fig. 9, a vertical longitudinal section of the same; Fig.'10 is the rear end of a modification of Fig. 3; Fig. 11 is the front end of the same; Fig, 12, a verti-' cal longitudinal section of the same; Fig.'13 is the rear end of a modification of Fig. 3;

Fig. 14, the front end of the same; Fig. 15, av

vertical longitudinal section of the same.

Like letters denote corresponding parts in each figure.

The object I have in view in my invention is the production of a cartridge, the base of which may be conveniently reprimed and reused, which will be economical in manufacture, effective in use, and. conveniently extracted for a second use; and my invention therein consists principally in such a construc-' tion of the cartridge that it may be fired by pressure or friction, instead of by concussion, that t he body of the cartridge may be easily separated from the shell, so that the latter may be preserved, and that the quantity of fulminate may be increased or diminished without changing the sensiti'veness of the primer, and in the various operative combinations of the principal parts.

In order toenable those skilled in the art to make and use my cartridges, Inow proceed to describe the same more fully.

A represents the base ofthe cartridge, which is separate from the body B; G, the primer; D, the plunger or firing-pin; E, the vent, with converging sides a, and a flanges to same; F, the projectile; and b, the stem of fit more tightly in such chamber.

front end of the cartridge.

It will be observed that this base has an external flange, d, between which and the walls of the vent is a recess into which the body B- is compressed and retained by friction. This flange, however, should turn out a little toward the front end, so that when the cartridge is put in position in the chamber of a pistol for discharge, the flange, by compression, will This base has also a hook-shaped flange, e, in order to adapt it better for extraction. is composed of an outer cup, f, and an inner cup, f, with roughened orindented inner surfaces. The inner cup f is smaller than the outer cup, and when placed therein there should be space between the side walls of both cups for fulminate as well as between the cups in the usual way.

As has been already indicated this cartridge is adapted to be exploded by compression, or by. friction, is described in an application which I have filed for Letters Patent of the United States.

In discharging the cartridge shown in Fig. 1, the plunger D forces the primer G into the vent E, and by the compression of. the side walls of the primer by the converging sides of the vent, or by flanges a in its passage through the vent, the fulminate in the primer is ignited, and fire communicated to the cartridge, the outer cap f remaining in the vent, as shown in shaded lines in Fig. l, and serving to stop back escape in the usual way. When the base is reused it requires simply the insertion of another primer, with or without the removal of the exploded cap f, which, if allowed to remain, will not affect the dis: charge of the new primer.

The manner shown in Fig. 1 of securing the projectile in the cartridge by means of the stem b, gives a better supportto the projectile, which may be cemented, riveted, or held, by powder-cake, and at the same time theclosed end of the cartridge-body by its support enables the body to be of thinner metal or of other cheaper material, and the vent-holes a will insure the separation of the projectile from the cartridge-body, which, in all in- The primer (J the mechanism for doing which i stances will pass out of the barrebof the firearm in its discharge. A

It is evident that there may be many modifications of a primer adapted to be discharged by compression or friction, of which anotherinstance is shown in Figs. 3 and 4,-where the inner cup f has a rough inner edge and-rough outer walls, and an opening in the bottom of the cup, and a wad or plate to hold the fulminate, or powder, or both, which may be placed therein.

Figs. 5 and 6 show another modific'a'tiomin which the opening is of a crescent form, ,whicln may be effected by having a seam through the plates, by means of which a free portion can be bent so as to make the vent larger or smaller, as desired.

Figs.'7, 8, and 9 show another modification for a more sensitive primer, in which there are two openings close together in the inner cup, preferably inclined in opposite directions, by means of which a communication with the cartridge is more certainly efl'ected. In this modification the outer cup is shown with the center recessed and made thinner at that point, and a wad is also shown in'the interior between the cups, .to protect against an untimely explosion. It will be observed that the openings above mentioned in the inner cups, as shown in Figs:

-5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, are" made vin a recess in the lace of such inner cups, the object .of which,

by its arching form, is to give better supportto the metal already weakened by such opening. I Figs. 10, 11', and 12 show another modification,-inten'ded for astill more sensitive primer, where a'thin intermediate plate and a wad inserted between the two cups and an additional small cup inserted over an anvil in the inner cup. By this means a very sensitive primer isinsured, sufiiciently protected against untimely explosion, and adapted to hold the i'ulmina'te against loss or escapein handling. Figs. 13,14, and 15 show another modification of a sensitive primer, in which there is an intermediate inverted cup, the outer walls of which are roughened, between which cups it is intended to place fulminate. It is to be understood that in the foregoing description,where the inner cup is mentioned,

there is intended to be covered not onlycups properly, but cylinders 01' plates more or less dishing, which'efl'ect the same result. Itis evident that, with regard to the converging sides'and the converging flanges of the vent, that either or both of these features may be adopted in fire-armsor in ordnance, and become a permanent construction in the same, to be used with the primer described, instead of having ,thc same injthe. cart-ridge itself.

Having thus described my improvement, what I claim as new therein, and of my own invention, is-

1. In a cartridge-primer, the combination of an outer cup and an inner cup, with a space within the wallsojt the two cups, one or both of theadjacent walls being-roughened, substantially as and forthe purposes described.

. 2. In a cartridge-primer, as. described, a separate wad or, plate interposed between the cups, substantially as'and for the purposes set forth. s

'3.- A cartridge-primer with acute! seam through the face, so that the portion of the metal included in the cut or seam may be bent and produce a vent, which maybe enlarged or diminished as the metal is more or less bent, substantially as described.

4. A cartridge-primer with openings in the faceot' the inner cup leadingyout-ot' separate arched recesses, substantially as'and forthe purposes set forth.

5. In combination with a prime'r,'a cartridge provided with converging flanges adapted to compress the primer passing between them, substantially as and forthe purposes described,

" 6. A cartridge with' a vent its base, ha.v ing converging flanges, substantially as de- I scribed. V

7. A-cartridge with a hooked flange to its base, to assist in the ready extraction of the. same. substan tially as described.

8. In combination. with ascartridge-body adapted to be discharged, and having a close forward end, the projectile F, having the stem 11 secured to theforward end of the cartridgebody, substantially as and for the purposes described. 1

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of March, 1876.

ROLLIN WHITE.

' Withesses:

E. L. WHITE, H. Ila-WHITE. 

